Purpose. Fournier's gangrene is a fulminant and destructive inflammation of the scrotum, penis, and perineum. The objective of this study was to compare 2 different approaches to wound management after aggressive surgical debridement. Methods. Data from 14 patients with Fournier's gangrene were retrospectively collected (2005–2011). Once the patients were stabilized following surgery, they were treated with either daily antiseptic (povidone iodine) dressings (group I, n = 6) or dressings with dakin's solution (sodium hypochloride) (group II, n = 8). Results. The mean age of the patients was 68.2 ± 7.8 (55–75) years in group I and 66.9 ± 10.2 (51–79) years in group II. Length of hospital stay was 13 ± 3.5 (7–16) days in group I and 8.9 ± 3.0 (4–12) days in group II (P < 0.05). The number and rate of mortality was 1/6 (16.7%) in group I, and 1/8 (12.5%) in group II. Conclusions. The hospitalization time can be reduced with the use of dakin's solution for the dressings in the treatment of FG. Also, dressings with dakin's solution seems to have favorable effects on morbidity and mortality. Consequently dakin's solution may alter the treatment of this disastrous disease by reducing cost, morbidity and mortality.

Recent published studies evaluating the long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser for superficial cutaneous vascular lesions have limited subjects and optimal treatment parameters have not been established. To determine the efficacy and safety of the long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser on superficial cutaneus vascular lesions and analyse retrospectively our experience of a 3-year period are the aims of this study. Over the 3-year period, 255 patients were treated [189 female and 66 male; median age 35 (range 7–65) years; Fitzpatrick skin types II-V]. Twenty-six patients with spider angioma, 130 with facial telangiectasia, and 99 with leg telangiectasia were treated. A long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser was used. A test dose was performed at the initial consultation and thereafter patients were reviewed and treated at 4-week intervals for 5 months. Of those patients who completed treatment and followup, 26/26 (100%) of spider angiomas, 125/130 (97%) of facial telangiectasia, and 80/99 (80,8%) of leg telangiectasia markedly improved or cleared. We suggest that the long pulsed Nd:YAG laser is a safe and effective treatment for common superficial cutaneous vascular lesions. However, it is not the first choise to use to treat superficial vessels on the face where depth is not the concern.

Conchal cartilage could be considered one of the autogenous materials among those materials suitable for the repair of defective orbital wall fractures that are not oversized. It has the advantages of being adequate for reconstruction of the fracture, easy to obtain, easily adaptable to the orbital walls, and having minimum morbidity at the donor site.

The difficulties faced in the reconstruction of the nasal alar defects are still continuing because of their unique anatomy, free margin, and triple-layered complex structure. In this study, we would like to present the results of the cartilage-supported nonfolded nasolabial flap reconstruction method that we applied to full-thickness alar defects involving the alar rim. Between March 2009 and October 2011, 5 patients with full-thickness alar defects underwent cartilage graft-supported nasolabial flap reconstructions. Three of the patients were men, whereas 2 patients were women. Their median age was 54.2 years (range, 43-62 y). The defects were caused by either tumor excision or trauma. According to the method we applied, cartilage grafts were placed into the pouches formed between the skin and the adipose tissue to provide cartilaginous support to the nasolabial flaps to be adapted to the defect areas. The deep surfaces that were going to form the nasal mucosa were grafted using postauricular full-thickness skin grafts. Patients were followed up for a median period of 7.3 months (range, 3-21 mo). In all patients, the flaps fully fitted the defect areas and provided enough coverage over the defects. Although minimal graft contractions were observed in the later phase because of the cartilage support placed within the pouches formed in the flaps, no nasal airway constrictions were observed.The technique we applied is a simple and reliable method providing adequate framework support, full color and texture harmony, an open nasal passage, and a single-session reconstruction in most cases.